Card game

ABSTRACT

A card game having a set of playing cards and a gaming cloth ( 10 ), the gaming cloth ( 10 ) defining, a first area ( 12 ) in which a plurality of playing cards may be dealt face-up, and a betting area ( 14 ), the betting area ( 14 ) being divided into a plurality of boxes ( 16  to  36 ), in which bets may be placed on the rank, suit and/or color of one or a combination of the cards turned up.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to card games in particular a card game suitable for use in a casino.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] According to one aspect of the present invention, a card game comprises a set of playing cards and a gaming cloth; characterised in that the game and cloth defines;

[0003] a first area in which a plurality of cards may be dealt face-up; and

[0004] a betting area in which bets may be placed on the rank, suit and/or colour of one or a combination of the cards turned up.

[0005] According to a preferred embodiment of the game, after bets have been placed, five cards from a conventional pack of 52 playing cards are dealt face-up.

[0006] The betting area is preferably sub-divided into boxes representing each card in the pack, said boxes being set out in tabular form having a plurality of rows and columns.

[0007] Bets may be placed on:

[0008] individual cards, by placing a token in the box representing that card;

[0009] pairs of cards by placing a token so that it overlaps two adjacent boxes;

[0010] three cards by placing a token so that it overlaps three adjacent boxes; and

[0011] four cards by placing a token so that it overlaps four adjacent boxes.

[0012] Additional boxes may be provided for placing bets matching combinations of the cards with respect to, for example, colour, i.e. black or red; picture cards; ranges of ranks of cards; or pairs of cards of the same rank.

[0013] According to an alternative embodiment, the game is played with a pack of 37 cards including 2 to 5 and 10 to Ace of each suit plus one or two Jokers, the dealer dealing three cards face up.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 illustrates the gaming cloth in accordance with the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 illustrates the betting area of the gaming cloth illustrated in FIG. 1; and

[0017]FIG. 3 illustrates a betting area for an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a gaming cloth 10 is marked with an area 12 in which five cards from a conventional pack of cards may be dealt face-up, and a betting area 14 in which bets may be placed on individual cards or combinations of the cards dealt face-up in area 12.

[0019] In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the game is played with a conventional pack of 52 playing cards, five cards being dealt face-up in area 12, after bets have been placed by one or more players.

[0020] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the playing area comprises a series of 52 boxes 16 each representing one of the playing cards of the pack. The boxes 16 are arranged in tabular form, having nine columns with six rows in each of the columns and four rows in the ninth column. Additional boxes are arranged around the table representing bets on combinations of the cards turned up, for example box 20 representing black, box 22 representing red, box 24 representing high (HI), box 26 representing low (LO), box 28 representing picture (PIC), box 30 representing minimum (MIN), box 32 representing mid-high (MID-HI), box 34 representing mid-low (MID-LO) and box 36 representing pair.

[0021] 2 to King of diamonds and hearts are coloured red, and 2 to King of clubs and spades are coloured black following the normal connection. The Ace's are however coloured green.

[0022] Prior to the cards being dealt face-up in area 12, players may place bets in the betting area 14 to predict the individual cards or combination of cards to be dealt face-up.

[0023] Players may place bets:

[0024] (i) on individual cards by placing a token 40 in the box representing that card;

[0025] (ii) two cards by placing a token 42 so that it overlaps two adjacent boxes 16;

[0026] (iii) three cards by placing a token 44 so that it overlaps three adjacent boxes 16;

[0027] (iv) four cards by placing a token 46 so that it overlaps four adjacent boxes 16; or

[0028] (v) on the colour or range of ranks of a combination of the cards turned up by placing tokens in areas 20 to 34;

[0029] (vi) on a pair of the same rank by placing tokens in area 36.

[0030] The cards are then dealt face-up in box 12 and the bets are decided by matching the cards dealt face-up, against the bets placed. The odds paid out on each bet will typically be as set out in Table 1 below. TABLE 1 BET MATCH ODDS 1 Card 1 Card 9-1 2 Cards 1 Card 4-1 2 Card 9-1 3 Cards 1 Card 2-1 2 Cards 10-1  3 Cards 35-1  4 Cards 1 Card 1-1 2 Cards 7-1 3 Cards 22-1  4 Cards 150-1  Black 3 or 4 black cards 1-1 5 black cards 9-1 Red 3 or 4 red cards 1-1 5 red cards 9-1 HI 3 or 4 cards of rank 8 to King 1-1 5 cards of rank 8 to King 9-1 LO 3 or 4 cards of rank 2 to 7 1-1 5 cards of rank 2 to 7 9-1 PIC 2 or more cards of rank Jack, Queen or King 2-1 MIN 2 or more cards of rank 2, 3 or 4 2-1 MID-HI 2 or more cards of rank 8, 9 or 10 2-1 MID-LO 2 or more cards of rank 5, 6 or 7 2-1 Pair 2 or more cards of same rank 1-1

[0031] According to an alternative format of the game, the game is played with a pack of 37 playing cards from 2 to 5 and 10 to Ace of each suit plus one Joker, three cards being dealt face-up in box 12.

[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 3, with this alternative format of the game, the betting area is divided into boxes 16 representing each of the suit cards arranged in tabular form having nine columns of four rows. Additional boxes 20, 22 being provided for placing bets on red or black and boxes 38 for placing bets on the Joker.

[0033] Bets on one, two, four cards red or black may be placed in the manner disclosed above.

[0034] The odds paid out on the bets will typically be as indicated in Table 2. TABLE 2 BET MATCH ODDS 1 Card 1 Card 11-1  2 Cards 1 Card 5-1 2 Cards 11-1  4 Cards 1 Card 2-1 2 Cards 4-1 3 Cards 35-1  Red 2 or more red cards 1-1 Black 2 or more black cards 1-1

[0035] According to a further embodiment, the odds paid out may be increased if the Joker is dealt face-up.

[0036] A further Joker may also be included in the pack, the odds varying if one or two Jokers are dealt.

[0037] Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the set of playing cards may comprise any number of cards and the number of cards dealt face-up may be varied, the odds being adjusted accordingly. Furthermore bets on other combinations of cards may be permitted.

[0038] The above described game may also be adapted for Internet entertainment and video slot machines. It could furthermore be stored on a disk and played on a computer or interactive television. In this respect the term gaming cloth used herein is intended to cover a virtual representation of a gaming cloth. Moreover use of the term cloth is not intended to restrict the claims to use of a particular material, but will cover any media which defines a playing area for the card game. 

1. A card gave comprising a set of playing cards and a gaming cloth 10, characterized in that the gaming cloth 10 defines: a first area 12 in which a plurality of cards may be dealt face-up; and a betting area 14 in which bets may be placed on the rank, suit and/or color of one or a combination of the cards turned up.
 2. A card game according to claim 1 in which the betting area 14 is divided into boxes 16, a separate box 16 representing each card of the set of cards, the boxes 16 being arranged in tabular form, having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.
 3. A card game according to claim 1 in which the betting area 14 has additional boxes 20 to 36, for placing a bet on combinations of the cards turned up.
 4. A card game according to claim 3 in which boxes 20 and 22 are provided for placing a bet relating to the number of black or red cards turned up.
 5. A card game according to claim 3 in which areas 24, 26, 30, 32 and 43 are provided in which bets may be placed on the number of cards falling within a certain range of rank of card which may be turned up.
 6. A card game according to claim 3 in which an area 28 is provided in which bets may be placed on the number of picture cards turned up.
 7. A card game according to claim 3 in which an area 36 is provided in which bets may be placed on two or more cards of the same rank being turned up.
 8. A card game according to claim 1 in which the set of cards comprises 52 cards, five cards being dealt face-up.
 9. A card game according to claim 1 in which the set of cards comprises 37 cards, three cards being dealt face-up.
 10. A card game according to claim 1 in which the set of cards includes one or more Jokers, the odds paid out on winning bets being increased if one or more Jokers are turned up.
 11. A card game described in claim 1 with reference to and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings. 